Plunk, Rainey taking on bigger responsibility as leaders, playmakers

HIME ROMERO/The Bulletin

LATHROP — Don’t let the fact that Kevin Rainey has never taken a varsity snap fool you.

The junior tailback has clearly emerged as a leader for Lathrop’s varsity squad and has even helped some upperclassmen get a handle on new positions they’ll be facing this new in a new offense.

Despite the fact that he’s in a position, where glory is only a carry away, Rainey just wants to do what he can to help his team.

“I think that as long as we keep working hard we’ll be successful and take those steps necessary to be successful,” Rainey said. “I think that we’re a tough team with a lot of guys that are working hard to do their jobs. That’ll make a big difference when league rolls around.”

And he’s got a believer in senior linebacker and tight end Austin Plunk.

One of the outspoken senior leaders of the team, Plunk — who has been learning the running back position in Lathrop’s new mixed-look offense — has come to believe in what Rainey can bring to the table.

The combination of two focused players on the same side of the ball, he said, will show people that Lathrop football is emerging as a legitimate program.

“We’ve got guys like Kevin stepping up as leaders — that really makes it easy to get pumped for the season and gets us ready to show people what we’re capable of,” Plunk said. “You see a lot of the younger players come in and they don’t have that drive because we haven’t won that many games, but this is a chance to show them that it’s not going to be like that anymore.

“Having those leaders makes all the difference.”

Rainey says he just wants to be a part of the team that turns the corner and pushes the Lathrop program to a new level.

“I just want to do what I can every snap to help my teammates out,” he said. “That’s what matters to me, and being part of a team that has worked so hard this summer — with guys like Austin taking charge — is a good thing.”